Chainsaw Man Dominates US Box Office With $8.5M Opening

Anime powerhouse “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” sliced through the competition this weekend. It claimed the number one spot at the domestic box office. The film earned a powerful $8.5 million on its opening day.

This strong performance underscores the growing influence of anime in mainstream cinema. According to Variety, the film is projected to earn $15 million through Sunday.

Anime Proves Its Box Office Muscle

Crunchyroll‘s latest release opened in 3,003 locations across the United States. The R-rated film is a direct continuation of the popular manga and anime series. It was released in both dubbed and subtitled formats for fans.

Premium formats like IMAX screenings helped boost its initial returns. The movie has already earned a stellar $61 million internationally. This success confirms anime as a consistent and reliable force in the theatrical market.

New Releases and Holdovers Battle for Second

Paramount’s new film, “Regretting You,” secured a second-place start. The Colleen Hoover adaptation earned $5.2 million on Friday. It is on track for a $13 million opening weekend.

In third place, the horror sequel “Black Phone 2” held strong. It added $3.7 million on its second Friday. Per Deadline, the film is pacing ahead of its 2021 predecessor.

Biopic and Sci-Fi Sequel Round Out the Top Five

“Deliver Me From Nowhere,” the Bruce Springsteen biopic, landed in fourth. It earned a respectable $3.5 million on its opening day. The film stars Jeremy Allen White and chronicles the making of the “Nebraska” album.

Disney’s “Tron: Ares” remained in the top five despite a significant drop. The sci-fi sequel earned $1.3 million, a 48% decline from the previous week. Its domestic total now stands at $59 million.

The weekend box office charts clearly show that dedicated fanbases, particularly for anime, can drive significant theatrical revenue. The strong performance of “Chainsaw Man” sets a new benchmark for niche genre releases.

Info at your fingertips

How much did Chainsaw Man make on opening day?

The film earned $8.5 million from Friday and preview screenings. It is projected to reach $15 million for the full weekend.

What other movies were in the top five?

“Regretting You” placed second. “Black Phone 2,” “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” and “Tron: Ares” followed behind.

How did the Bruce Springsteen biopic perform?

“Deliver Me From Nowhere” opened to $3.5 million. Early audience reactions have been positive despite mixed critical reviews.

Is anime a reliable box office draw now?

Yes. Consistent hits from studios like Crunchyroll prove anime has a strong and growing theatrical audience in the US.

How is Black Phone 2 performing compared to the first film?

According to Deadline, the sequel is currently pacing ahead of the original 2022 movie at the same point in its run.

Trusted Sources

Variety, Deadline, The Numbers